Posts pertaining to autism or to my sons, Aidan and/or Ryland.
We all have expectations for our lives. A lifestyle that we want to attain. I had expected to live a normal, boring kind of life with a husband that was home every night, well-behaved kids and cats that didn’t leave litter boxes so stinky. Yet sometimes reality comes crashing in and ruins what would otherwiseRead more
Even in the special needs’ community, Ry is special. He doesn’t usually fit into any of the molds – he doesn’t act like most of his peers. He’s been an individual since he was born. It’s been a long, exciting and sometimes frustrating journey with him, and it still isn’t over. We’ve only just begunRead more
There are some things about being a special needs parent that don’t get discussed in general conversation. Some things that sneak up on you and you kind of have to navigate on your own. Self-care and hygiene are big ones and puberty is the main cause of the conundrum. Puberty is usually considered a fairlyRead more
Autism is a funny creature. Having two sons with autism has taught me first hand just how different it can affect each child/person who has it. Aidan is at the high functioning end while Ry is at the low functioning end. Ryland gets most of the attention as his condition is more severe, but AidanRead more
Holidays always have a way bringing in to focus just how isolated my family really is. Christmas celebrations for us do not include a house full of people enjoying spirits and New Year’s is usually spent at home watching the ball drop during the Dick Clark’s Rockin’ News Year’s Eve Party on tv. We areRead more
I’d love to say that I’m not afraid of anything and when it comes to basic fears, I’m not. I’m not afraid of spiders or snakes or bugs. I don’t jump scare easy either. Most of my fears are deeper. My fears are usually based in what could or could not happen in the futureRead more
Up until now I haven’t really talked a whole lot about Aidan other than to say that he is the most “normal” of the family. He has his own challenges though. Aidan was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome when he was 9 years old which makes him what is called in the world of Autism anRead more
At some point in our lives I think we all stop and think to ourselves, “When did this happen to me? When did I become this person?” I do this on a regular basis. Growing up not once did I ever imagine my life to be what it is now – not even close. NoRead more
We’ve come to realize that our home does not run like most households. Things that are “normal” for us are not “normal” for others. Ry’s schedule is a prime example. Not many people need to take their 19-year-old to the bathroom for “potty time.” We’ve also come to realize that there are phrases one will here quite frequently in our home that aren’t heard in others. Here are some of them.
Today is World Mental Health Day. It is a day that started in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health as an awareness program to bring attention to the effects of mental illness worldwide. The World Federation for Mental Health has members in 150+ countries. In honor of the day, I am going hitRead more